HIS LIFE IN

EUROPE

CHAPTER 9

“I am dedicating myself night and day to certain

studies… about our country, its history, its

administration… the very rich collection of the British Museum, a

collection which cannot be found anywhere else is serving my purpose. For

this reason, I will stay here for a long time.”

-Jose Rizal

He chose the English City tobe his new home for 3 reasons:

1. To improve his knowledge of the

English Language.

2. To study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas.

3. London was safe place for him to carry on his fight against Spanish

tyranny.

Trip Across Atlantic

Rizal was on board the “”SS City of Rome”.

•While on the board, Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with his

marvellous skill of the yoyo as a defensive weapon.

MAY 24, 1888

On May 24, 1888, Rizal arrived at Liverpool in London where he stayed for only one day.

He spent his night at Adelphi Hotel

“A big and beautiful city and its celebrated port as worthy of its

great fame. The entrance is magnificent and the customhouse

is quite good.”

At his stay in the city, he described it as (22):

On May 25,1888, Rizal went to London.

In London.

For a while, he stayed as a guest in the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor.

At the end of May, he found a modest boarding place in the home of the Beckett family at No. 37 Chalcot, Crescent, Primrose Hill.

•Mr. Charles Beckett, organist of St. Paul’s church•Mrs. Beckett (his wife)•2 sons•4 daughters

The Beckett Family

British Museum

His research work in the British museum gained him the acquaintance of Dr. Reinhold Rost.

Dr. Reinhold Rost

The Librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An authority on Malayan languages and customs.

The British Museum

It is in the British

museum where Rizal spent a lot of time reading the pages of

Morga’s Sucesos and

other historical

works concerning

the Philippines.

Click icon to add picture

On Sundays, he was in the house of Dr. Rost, where aside

from having pleasant

conversations with him, played cricket

and other sports with Dr. Rost’s sons.

Sundays

Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

While Rizal was in London, annotating Morga’s book, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas was considered as his greatest achievement.

This was published in Mexico in 1869.

Dr. Antonio de Morga

“excellent, written in a scholarly fashion and in a very

simple manner and did not have ‘the superficiality and

the exaggeration,’ inherent in Spanish works.”

Rizal described Morga’s book as:

“accurate in the narration of events, unbiased in

judgment and unmarred by childish fantasies.”

Morga’s Sucesos was viewed as being:

GOOD AND BAD NEWS

GOOD NEWS

GOOD NEWS

It was this time that Rizal heard of the defense of Father Garcia of the Noli against the allegations and attacks of Fr. Rodriguez.

Rizal was overwhelmed of his gratitude that tears fell from his eyes.

Letter to Father Garcia (Jan. 7, 1891)

“We young Filipinos are trying to make over a nation and must not halt in our march, but from time to time turn our gaze upon our elders. We shall wish to read in their countenances approval of our actions. We are anxious to learn of the Philippines’ past which we need to understand to plan intelligently for the future. We want to know all that our ancestors know, and then add our own study to theirs. Then we shall progress the faster because we can go on from where they left off.”

BAD NEWS

The bad news outweighed the good news which are as follows:Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the petition of the “Anti-Friar Petition of 1888”.Anti-Friar Petition was presented by Doroteo Cortes to Jose Centeno, civil governor of the Province of Manila, March 1, 1888. this petition was signed by about 800 patriots and was actually written by M.H. del Pilar. It was addressed to the Queen Regent of Spain requesting the expulsion of the friars, including Archbishop Pedro Payo (Dominican), Manila.

Persecution of the Calamba tenants, including Rizal’s family and relatives, for their courage to petition the government for agrarian reforms.

Furious attacks on Rizal by Senators Salamanca and Vida in the Spanish Cortes and by Desengaños (Wenceslao Retana) and Quioquiap (Pablo Feced) in Spanish newspapers.

Rizal’s brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, husband of Saturnina, was exiled by Governor Weyler to Bohol without due process of law.

A friend of Rizal, Laureano Vida, a medical student of the University of Santo Tomas, was arrested and jailed in Bilibid Prison because copies of the Noli was found in his house.

Short Visit to Paris and Spain

After ten (10) months in London….

Rizal left London for Paris.

Early in September 1888, Rizal visited Paris for a week in order to search for more historical materials in Bibliotheque Nationale.

On December 11, 1888, Rizal went to Madrid and Barcelona, Spain in order to determine the political situation relevant to the agitation of reforms in the Philippines.

There, he met two leaders in the Propaganda Movement, Marcelo H. del Pilar and for the first time Mariano Ponce, and exchanged ideas and plans in their fight for reforms.

After Rizal’s stay in Spain, on December 24, 1888, he went back to London and spent his Christmas and New Year there.

Back to London…

Gifts…

That Christmas was a joyous one where he received a gift from his landlady, a book entitled The Life and Adventures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist.

Rizal sent a gift which he made for his best friend, Blumentritt, a bust of Emperor Augustus, while to Dr. Carlos Czepelak, the Polish scholar, a bust of Julius Caesar.

Rizal becomes leader of Filipinos

in Europe

Solidaridad Association

By unanimous vote of all the members, Rizal was chosen Honorary President of Filipino Patriotic Society in Barcelona called Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad Association) which would cooperate in the crusade for reforms. This was inaugurated on December 31, 1888.

Rizal then wrote a letter of thanks addressed to the members of Asociacion La Solidaridad on Jan. 28, 1889Letter content

When defeated never surrender Great deal of integrity and much good will

Rizal and the La SolidaridadOn December 13,

1888, Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper called La Solidaridad in Barcelona.

La Solidaridad was printed in:Barcelona (Feb. 15-Oct. 31, 1889)Madrid (Nov. 15-Nov. 15, 1895)

Rizal became an active contributor to the newspaper (as “Laong Laan” and “Dimas Alang.”

Aims of La Solidaridad

1. To work peacefully for political and social reforms;

2. To portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that Spain may remedy them;

3. To oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism;

4. To advocate liberal ideas and progress; and5. To champion the legitimate aspirations of

the Filipino people to life, democracy, and happiness.

Rizal’s First Article in La Solidaridad

Rizal’s first article in La Solidaridad was entitled Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino Farmers).

It was published on March 25, 1889, six days after he left London for Paris.

Writings in London

Rizal received news on Fray Rodriguez’ unabated attack on his Noli. In defense he wrote a pamphlet entitled La Vision del Fray Rodriguez (The Vision of Fray Rodriguez) which was published in Barcelona.

Under the pseudonym “Dimas Alang,” Rizal satirically attacked Fray Rodriquez through presenting a spirited conversation between the friar and St. Augustine.

In London, Rizal wrote the famous “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos” in Tagalog.

He penned it, upon the request of Marcelo del Pilar to praise the young ladies of Malolos for their courage to establish a school where they could learn Spanish, despite opposition of Father Felipe Garcia, Spanish parish priest of Malolos.

The letter’s main points:

Filipino mother should teach her children love of God, fatherland and mankind;

…should be glad, like Spartan mother to offer her sons in the defense of the fatherland;

Filipino woman should know how to preserve her dignity and honor;

…should know how she should educate herself, aside from retaining her good racial values;

Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious pictures, but rather, it is living the real Christian way, with good morals and good manners.

Romance with Gertrude Beckett

It was also at this time that Rizal fell in love again, with his landlady’s daughter, Gertrude Beckett.

Rizal Fell in Love Again

Gertrude Beckett Buxom English girl with

brown hair, blue eyes, and pinkcheeks

Eldest of the three sisters She was attracted to

Rizal and had always loved to be with him.

helped him in his painting and sculpture

“I fell in love with Rizal. On cold winter mornings I had a

sunny smile for him, chattering gaily like a humming bird.

During the family picnics, I was particularly very happy because Rizal was with them and I gave

him all my attention. And in rainy days when Rizal stayed at home, I helped him by mixing

his colours for painting or assisted in preparing the clay

for sculpturing”

As their flirtation was fast approaching the point of no return, Rizal suddenly realized that he could not marry Gettie for he had a mission to fulfil in life. he did not let his emotions overcome his “obsession” of fulfilling his “mission” to institute reforms in his country.

Adios London

• Rizal was forced to leave London because Gertrude’s love for him has turned serious.

• He could not take advantage of her affection and she would not be happy because Rizal was in love with Leonor Rivera.

• He decided to move to Paris so she may forget him.

His Four Sculptural Works

1. Prometheus Bound2. The Triumph of Death Over Life3. The Triumph of Science Over Death4. A composite carving of the heads of

the Beckett sisters

Prometheus Bound

The Triumph of Science over Death (left)

Sacred Heart of Jesus (center)

The Triumph of Death over Life (right)

In the middle of March, 1889, Rizal departed for Paris. He was sad as he

crossed the English Channel for he had many beautiful memories of London.

His Second Trip to Paris

Paris

In March 1889, Rizal left for Paris, his second time to visit the place.

Difficulty in finding Quarters

Valentin Ventura

Rizal lived in the house of his friend at No. 45 Rue Maubeuge

Life in ParisRizal used to dine at the homes of his friends.

Pardo De TaverasThe VenturasThe Bousteds Luna Family

Pardo de Tavera’s family

Children of Don Joaquin Pardo de Tavera - escaped from Marianas and lived in France.

Dr. Trinidad H. de taveras – Physician and PhilologistDr. Felix Pardo de Tavera – Physician, Artist and

SculptorPaz Pardo de Tavera – Wife of Juan Luna

A letter dated May 16, 1889

“My daily life in Paris is spent in the following manner: one or two hours in the gymnasium and in fencing, three or four hours in the library, the rest I use up in writing and visiting friends.I am invited to eat at Luna’s house, on Sundays at Mrs. Juliana’s and on Fridays I visit the family of Boustead (also a Filipino) where sometimes I take tea.”

The Exposition

Kidlat Club

Kidlat Club

On March 19, 1889, Rizal arrived in Paris from London and there he formed a club called the Kidlat Club, whose members were Filipino patriots.

It was temporary in nature, and their major purpose was to form a comradeship, and to enjoy their stay in Paris especially during the Universal Exposition.

KIDLAT means “lightning” and it is in the light of this meaning that the club was formed and

disbanded.

Kidlat Club

Kidlat Club Patriotic Members

Antonio LunaJuan LunaGregorio AguileraFernando CanonLaura DimayugaJulio LorrenteGuillermo PautuBaldomero Roxas

Filipinos participated in the art contest and among them were: Felix R. Hidalgo, Juan Luna, Felix Pardo de Tavera, and Rizal.

Hidalgo’s painting won second prize, the paintings of Juan Luna and F. Pardo de Tavera, each obtained the third prize, while Rizal’s entry a bust which he modeled got no prize. The bust was “one to qualify for the exhibition, but not good enough to win an international prize (29).”

Indios Bravos

Indios Bravos(Brave Indians)

The Sociedad R.D.L.M.

Sociedad R.D.L.M

Redencion de los Malayos

( REDEMPTION OF THE MALAYS)

R.D.L.M Society2 Letters of Rizal mentioned the secret society

Letter to Jose Maria Basa ( September 21, 1889

Letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar ( Nov. 4, 1889)

“the propagation of all useful knowledge – scientific, artistic,

literary, etc. – in the Philippines.”

Max Havelaar - written by Multatuli

(pseudonym of Eduard Douwes Dekker)

Members of R.D.L.M

Gregorio AguileraJose Maria Basa Julio LlorenteMarcelo H. Del PilarMariano PonceBaldomero RoxasFr. Jose Maria Changco.

Rizal wrote to Blumentritt

Bornean Colonization includes the right of the colonists to:

Buy the LandsThe free use of the seashoresThe unusual long term of the

lease for 999 yrs.

The publication of the annotated edition of

morga’s sucesos

Finally in 1890, the annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos was printed by Garnier Freres.

Rizal’s errors in prologue of Blumentritt

Rizal commits the error of many historians

Rizal’s attack on the church were unfair and unjustifiable

Rizal dedicated the new edition of Morga to the

Filipinos

Rizal proved that Filipinos were already civilized before the advent of Spain.

Paris Libreria de Garnier Hermanos

1890

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

Dec. 28, 1889 – in his letter to Dr. Baldomero Roxas

Oct. 12, 1889 – Blumentritt wrote to Rizal

Dec. 31, 1889 – Mariano Ponce wrote to Rizal receiving the book.

His Competence as a Historian

Rizal as Historian

British Museum in London

Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris

Historical documents and Books

English – Marsden, Raffles, Lord Stanley, and Wallace.

German – Blumentritt, Jagor, and Virchow

French – Book of M. Jacquet, J. Mallat and A. Marche.

Spanish – Work of TH Pardo de Tavera

Blumentritt

Feodor Jagor

Rizal - a Real Historian2 Historical Commentaries in London

Ma- yi (Dec. 6, 1888)Tawalisi of Ibn Batuta ( Jan. 7, 1889)

Published in La SolidaridadThe Philippines within a Century (Filipinas

dentro de Cien Años)The Indolence of the Filipinos ( Sobre la

Indolencia de los Filipinos)

THE END.BALIT MAY PART 2 PA.